How to Prepare a GSA Contract Proposal – Part One: Get Ready

In order to be considered for a GSA Schedule contract, you’ll need to provide accurate and complete information about your company, your experience, and the products and services you offer.

Offers are completed and submitted through the eOffer system, and may take several months from the time you submit until you are awarded a contract. Complete, well-documented offers are easier and faster to review.

Remember that being awarded a GSA Schedule contract does NOT guarantee your company will receive orders. You still need to market your business to agencies.

Registration

DUNS: You’ll need to obtain a Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), a unique code to identify your business. There is no charge to register.

SAM: You must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) to do business with the federal government. The company name in DUNS will be entered into SAM, and must match exactly the name your company uses when paying taxes to the IRS.

Digital Certificate: You will need a GSA-approved digital certificate to upload your offer to the eOffer system. You must upload a copy of a digital certificate for each individual having signatory rights for the Schedule. You may purchase this digital certificate from either of two GSA-approved companies.

Training

Pathways to Success

You must complete the online training course called ‘Pathways to Success”. This course will explain how GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule contracts work; how to be successful as a vendor; what is required of you; and additional details about the offer process. You will navigate through chapters, completing quizzes along the way. Once you have completed the course you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion, which must be included with your submission.

Readiness Assessment

You must complete this course, which can help you identify the right Special Item Numbers (SINs), which categorizes specific product and service groups. You will use online GSA data sources to identify other companies that provide similar products and services, to see if you can compete with them. ( you must maintain a minimum level of sales to retain a GSA Schedule contract). The course must be completed by someone from your company who is authorized to sign for the firm. You will include the Certificate of Completion document with your submission